PCB criticise NZ call, England tour under a cloud

The abrupt abandonment of New Zealand's tour of Pakistan has put question marks over England's planned tour next month, with the England and Wales Cricket Board saying it will make a decision over the weekend about whether to go ahead with their first visit to the country in 16 years.

New Zealand abandoned their tour of Pakistan on Friday because the visitors believed its team could be attacked outside Rawalpindi Stadium, according to the Pakistani government.

New Zealand Cricket declined to reveal the nature of the security alert that prompted the sudden decision to cancel the tour moments before the scheduled start of the one-day international series. Both teams had stayed at their hotel.

But according to Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan – the former Test great – that the team could be attacked outside the stadium.

Imran Khan, on a government visit of Tajikistan, informed Ardern "we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team."

Interior Minister Ahmed also said he had no information about a threat against the New Zealanders, and backed Khan at a news conference.

"He (Imran) told her that the law and order situation is the best in our country and we give a guarantee that there is no security problem here, there is no security threat," Ahmed said.

"But the prime minister of New Zealand said that the issue is not the threat but we have such information that when the team goes out it can come under some attack, so they have unilaterally cancelled their tour."

The security concern, which comes just months before Australia's planed Test tour to the Asian nation, has the hosts mystified.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja hinted they will protest to the International Cricket Council against NZC's "unilateral" decision.

"Crazy day it has been! Feel so sorry for the fans and our players," Raja tweeted.

"Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating. Especially when it's not shared!! Which world is NZ living in?? NZ will hear us at ICC."

NZC said in a statement: "Following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the Black Caps will not continue with the tour. "

NZC chief executive David White said: "I understand this will be a blow for the PCB, who have been wonderful hosts, but player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option."

In May 2002, New Zealand abandoned their Test series in Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack outside their Karachi hotel and Pakistan was a no go zone for international teams for a decade after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009, killing seven people and injuring several players.

Since international teams resumed touring Pakistan in 2019, this is the first instance of a team having to abandon while in the country.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment at the cancellation, while former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar tweeted: "NZ just killed Pakistan cricket."

Both England's men's and women's sides are scheduled to play back-to-back Twenty20 double headers on October 13 and 14 in Rawalpindi, with the women staying on for three one-day internationals later in the month.

An ECB spokesperson said: "The ECB board will decide in the next 24-48 hours whether our planned tour should proceed."

- with AP, Reuters and Press Association